New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-23
j. c. CLARKE ON THE INTERSTATE BILL.
SOME STARTLING SUGGESTIONS FROM TIE rREsI-


DENT OF ILLINOIS CENTRAL.
Colonel A. W. Soper, who Is interested In railroad
matters chatting yesterday in the corridor OF the
Fifth Avenue Hotel with j. c. Clarke president or the
Illinois Central Railroad. When TRIBUNE reporter
Joined hem Colonel soper calling attention 10 the
constant OF accidents to passenger cars by tho
breaking OF axcs. Said he "A friend Of mine who came
to town last night which two axles broke
Three or four days the road heard OF an
axle breaking in the way have attributed II 10
the putting OF steel wheels. the old axles being re-
taned II generally understood that these old axes
would he thrown aside after being used Their use
has been continued three four five as the case
might he. and now they are beginning to break IL
that Congress ght better Its inter-
state Commerce Commission to require proper equip
men better roadbcds and perfect improvement OF inc
railroads than Dkerlng with the rates. what are
we going to do about these broken aXles and such
thngsi !" Colonel soper asked turning to Mr.. Clarke
Mr.. Clarke who Is quaint OF expression with twahS
in his voice that tells of his Southern origin responded
II Congress will pass two more measures ike
the Interstate Commerce bill the axle question Will sete
itself There will not I've enough axles LEFT In operation
10 he worth any attention.
"What the railroads going TO do about the Inter
state Commerce bill !" asked the reporter.
81 can only tell you' said Mr.. Clark, what thihS
they ought TO do There ought to be immediate call
for National convention of railroad men, Every rail-
road in the country ought to he represented Ihey Ought
to together and agree to rigid line OF operation
under this BILL obeyng it strictly in every respect Then
they ought to put mp the rates OF through freight oo por
"what would no the effect Of THAR 49,.
" 1t would probably create the biggest panic tnls
country has but that is just what think tho
country needs when II permits its legislators To pass
measure like this Interstate Commerce bill The putting
up of the rates, have suggested would shut OF every
bit Of produce west of Tho Aeghanes from access TO me
would suffer. but they ought 10 suffer In order TO see
these things AS they are. The shutters would go
New York banks and hour or twenty
four would he sufficient for the transaction OF their
entire business 1t would not be long before the people
would be clamOrng 10 Congress for some relief nor be-
fore there would be In either branch OF congress
bill The Ia that there any prepos
notion than that five will he competent 10 reg
ulate the OF this country when 0OOOOOO men
trying regulate for years and years These
lOOOOOOO men comprise bankers. merchants. brokers,
railroad men, farmers and shippers OF ali kinds They
are men who know about the shipping business.
about the transportation business and about railroad
business than the best equipped Congress was
in Washington while and sat in the gallery
looking down on these representatives. or the people
declare you that believe could bring together 400
track hands who possess more intelligence than
the American Congress. never knew such "a piece OF
absrty "a TINT these fellows should bc understood rs to
be able solve the transportation problem. II had
hose that needed shoeing would not take him 10 the
wife would not send for the blacksmith 10 gyo her
prescription / would think that had desperate task
tomorrow morning. but certainly could do that easier
than DR.. Hall could make tarif for railroad shall
have been forty years In tho railroad business on
tho first Of March next. In that time have
made and helped to make 1000 tariffs and never
saw one that did not require changing within an hOir
after 1t into practical operation. The greatest rail
road ever had III this country which lasted over
Try. was started by the Board OF Transportation OF
New York which made the proposition at the instance
OF Vanderbilt that the through rates 10 all sea
board points should be equal This wa, Discrimination
which Garrett and Roberts fought to bitter end
There must he derental rates on account OF difference
m.aEe ana Op a. nrncr action nnscr h m the
country will soon wish for Its repeal